Chapter 57 - Tidebreaker
The ocean erupted.
Hundreds of corrupted sea beasts burst from the waves.
Bloodfin Sea Sharks.
Armoured Tide Crabs.
Giant Serpent Eels.
Sky-blue jellyfish crackling with black lightning.
Within moments, Kai's fleet was completely surrounded.
Panic spread among the sailors.
"They're everywhere!"
"We're trapped!"
---
The Book of Infinite Beasts appeared.
Battlefield Assessment
Enemy Forces:
- 327 Corrupted Sea Beasts
- 53 Abyss Legion Warships
Allied Forces:
- Guardian Leviathan (Restricted)
- Imperial Airship
- Merchant Fleet
Victory Condition:
Protect the civilians.
---
Kai planted his spear on the deck.
"Everyone listen!"
The frightened sailors looked towards him.
"The warships are not our priority."
"Save the people first."
Rowan nodded immediately.
"Ashfang Pack!"
"Protect every ship!"
The giant wolves leapt from vessel to vessel with astonishing agility, pulling fallen sailors from the water.
Selene led the Imperial Guards across the fleet, cutting down only the black crystals controlling the sea beasts rather than killing them.
The Crimson Flame Fox and Ignis flew together, spreading the Flame of Hope across the battlefield.
Wherever the sacred fire touched the corrupted creatures, their eyes slowly returned to their natural colours.
---
On the flagship of the Abyss Legion...
Admiral Nereus watched silently.
A young officer approached.
"Admiral."
"Should we attack?"
Nereus shook his head.
"Observe."
The officer frowned.
"Observe?"
Nereus folded his arms.
"I want to know whether this Sovereign truly deserves the fragments."
---
Back on the battlefield...
Kai noticed something strange.
The corrupted beasts ignored the warships of the Abyss Legion.
They attacked only civilians.
"They're being directed..."
Ignis followed Kai's gaze.
"Not by Nereus."
"Something else is controlling them."
---
Suddenly...
One of the merchant ships exploded.
A massive whirlpool formed beneath it.
Children screamed as the vessel tilted towards the sea.
Kai reacted instantly.
"Spirit Step!"
He leapt across the waves.
The Crimson Flame Fox raced beside him.
Just before the ship disappeared beneath the water, Kai drove his spear into the deck.
"Hold on!"
Golden light erupted from the Book.
Chains of spiritual energy wrapped around the sinking vessel.
Rowan and the Ashfang wolves pulled from one side.
Thalassor used the tip of its colossal tail to steady the ship without leaving its position above the ancient gate.
Together...
They dragged the vessel to safety.
Cheers erupted across the fleet.
---
For the first time, Nereus smiled.
"So..."
"You protect strangers before yourself."
"Just like the First Sovereign."
---
Without warning...
The sea beneath Nereus's flagship turned black.
His smile vanished.
"Everyone!"
"Retreat!"
Before anyone understood why...
A gigantic tentacle erupted from the depths.
It wrapped around one of the Abyss Legion's warships.
The entire vessel was crushed in seconds.
Another tentacle appeared.
Then another.
The ocean boiled.
The Book of Infinite Beasts flashed urgently.
Unknown Entity Detected
Classification:
Ancient Sea Beast
Rank:
Unknown
Status:
Fully Corrupted
Warning:
Not under the control of the Abyss Legion.
---
Nereus's expression hardened.
"So..."
"It woke up earlier than expected."
Kai stared at him.
"You knew this would happen?"
Nereus answered honestly.
"I feared it."
Another tentacle swept across the sea, destroying friend and foe alike.
Even the corrupted sharks fled in terror.
Thalassor released a thunderous roar.
"It has broken one chain!"
The ancient gate beneath the ocean glowed with a deep blue light.
One of its seven locks had cracked.
The Third Star Fragment floated faintly behind it.
But pressing against the other side of the gate...
Was an enormous eye.
It slowly opened.
The pupil was shaped like a spiral.
Its gaze alone caused the sea to tremble.
The Book displayed only one line.
Seal Integrity
91%... 90%... 89%...
Kai tightened his grip on his spear.
"This isn't an invasion..."
He looked at the ancient gate beneath the waves.
"It's a prison break."
Far below the sea, something ancient smiled.